Brothers' Quarrel
Harry sat heavily next to Ron when he got to the Great Hall fir breakfast.
"What did Dumbledore want?" Ron asked as Harry started putting eggs on his plate. Hermione looked up when he asked.
"I'll tell you both later. And I'm sure they'll be present when I do," he glared at Clark, Kara and Zatanna arrived and sat down: Clark next to Harry and Kara and Zatanna next to Hermione.
"Morning," said Hermione to the latest arrivals, before looking curiously at Zatanna.
"Morning, Hermione, Ron. This is Zatanna. She arrived this morning," said Clark.
"Hello, I'm Hermione. Do you all know each other already?" she asked.
"Yes, we're old friends. Just so happens we're coming to the same school."
Before Hermione could ask any more about it, Professor McGonagall was coming around with the class schedules. Zatanna and the Kryptonians were listening curiously as she cleared Hermione for her classes before she turned on Harry.
"Potter, I was surprised to see that you have not signed up for Potions. Is it not still your ambition to become an auror?" she asked, holding a blank piece of parchment.
Clark looked at Kara and Zatanna confused. He mouthed the word 'auror?' They shrugged their shoulders.
"Well, yes it is. But I thought I had to get an 'Outstanding' in my O.W.L."
"You did- when Professor Snape taught Potions. But Professor Slughorn is more than happy to take on N.E.W.T. students with 'Exceeds Expectations'."
"That's great. Sign me up," said Harry, happy not to forfeit his auror ambitions. Soon enough, Harry took the parchment, which now had his schedule on it, and headed for Defence Against the Dark Arts. Next, Ron was cleared for the same Classes as Harry.
Clark, Kara and Zatanna looked up at the elderly witch expectantly, waiting for their own schedules.
"Take these," she handed each of them a piece of parchment with a map on it, "It will lead you to my office. I'll meet you there shortly."
They got up and left the Great Hall. The map had an arrow on it which appeared to be pointing them in the right direction. Following the arrows, they were outside McGonagall's office in mere minutes.
They didn't have to wait long before she came walking toward them. She opened the door with a wave of her wand, "In." she said a bit more sternly than what might have been called for.
They hurried in and sat down. She walked around the desk, but she stayed standing. Clark suddenly got a bad feeling.
"I am Professor McGonagall, Deputy Headmistress of Hogwarts School, and I take the safety of my students very seriously."
Zatanna spoke up, "What are you getting at, Professor?"
"The Headmaster informed me of your purpose here, and not the 'bodyguard' story, your real purpose."
Clark and Kara exchanged a nervous look.
"I hope that the three of you realize the risk that we are taking in allowing you to remain here in the current wartime climate. The only reason that I am allowing it is that I trust Professor Dumbledore's judgment. I understand that you," she gestured Zatanna, "are more powerful than the average adult wizard and know magics that are not taught at this school, and you two," she looked at Clark and Kara, "have powers completely unknown to us and that Mr. Potter will soon develop the same powers. This gives the three of you a great advantage should you come into conflict with anyone here, staff or student. Be warned that I do not take kindly to anyone endangering the life of one of my students."
"Professor, we have no intention of harming anyone," said Clark, "I just want to help my brother with his powers. And if it helps to set your mind at ease, my cousin and I are vulnerable to magic."
McGonagall considered this, "Very well," she pulled out three more blank pieces of parchment from a drawer in her desk, "Let it be known that I do not tolerate disruptions of any kind. You are not to draw attention to yourselves in any way,"
"I'm used to staying under the radar," said Clark; Kara and Zatanna nodded in agreement.
"You have my trust for the time being. Don't lose it." She tapped her wand on each of the parchments and handed them out, "Here are your schedules. You have Defense Against the Dark Arts now. Those maps that I gave you will lead you around the castle until you learn your way. Now off with you."
"Thank you, Professor," said Clark, "And it was nice meeting you," he held out his hand, ever the Boy Scout. She shook his hand though mildly surprised by the gesture.
"It was nice meeting you, too, Kent." That said, they left her office and began looking for Defense class.
"How kind of our new students to join us today," Snape said as Clark, Kara and Zatanna walked in through the door.
"Oh no, not you again," said Kara with disdain, causing several students to snigger. Harry, Ron, Hermione and several other Gryffindors, however, could only stare at her in slight shock.
"Forty points from Gryffindor for tardiness, and another fifteen for cheek. Now get to work."
"What are we supposed to be doing, sir?" asked Clark, his hand firmly over Kara's mouth.
"Pair off and attempt to stun each other without speaking," Snape growled back before turning his attention elsewhere.
"What does he mean by 'stun'?" Kara asked in a whisper.
"Just imagine a red beam shooting from your wand and knocking the other person out for a bit. But remember not to get it right on the first try," said Zatanna.
They stood there awkwardly for a minute looking around the room. Two of them could work together, but there didn't seem to be anyone available for the third person to work with. Eventually, Snape saw them.
"Apparently the new students are unfamiliar with the concept of 'pairing off'," he looked around the room until he saw Malfoy practicing with both Crabbe and Goyle, "Malfoy, let Crabbe and Goyle work together. You work with Mr. Kent. Ms. Kent can work with…" he pointed his finger at Zatanna.
"Zatanna Zatara, sir," said Zatanna.
"I did not ask for your name, girl," said Snape.
"Well you'd need to know it eventually," said Zatanna.
"Another fifteen points from Gryffindor."
"Just let it go," said Clark when Zatanna was about to say something. They all pulled out their wands and turned to their partners. Clark saw that he had to duel the boy he bumped into last night, the same one that broke Harry's nose and was laughing about it.
"So, is this your third time repeating sixth year? I know that they say that Gryffindors are more brawn than brain, but you're just ridiculous," he said with a sneer.
"Better than being pale and scrawny," Clark retorted. This just made him angry.
"How dare you. Don't you know who I am?"
"You know, I really don' care much."
"Mr. Kent, Mr. Malfoy, need I remind you the meaning of non-verbal?" Snape called out before Malfoy could say anything back.
"No, Professor," said Malfoy, grudgingly. They both pointed their wands at each other to attempt, or pretend to attempt, a wandless stunning. A majority of the class, however, passed with Malfoy throwing various insults at Clark, which he ignored.
"Six years of study and you all find difficulty in a simple stunning spell," said Snape to the class, condescendingly, "Step aside, Weasley. Allow me to demonstrate. Prepare yourself, Potter," everyone in the class looked to where Snape was facing Harry with his wand out. Clark noticed that Harry seemed very tense, as though he was expecting a real attack.
Just as Snape was about to cast his spell, "Expelliarmus!" the force of Harry's spell knocked the professor off of his feet.
Some Slytherine students rushed to help the teacher up. He straightened his robes and glared angrily at Harry, "I said Non-verbal, Potter! What part of that is lost on you?"
"Sorry, it was a reflex," said Harry, stiffly.
"Sir!" Snape emphasized.
"There's no need to call me 'sir', professor,"
Several things happened all at once. Hermione slapped a hand to her forehead in exasperation; Ron stared wide-eyed; there was a sharp intake of breathe from the two Kryptonians and the rest of the class went dead silent.
"You shouldn't have done that," said Clark as they were walking towards lunch. Harry ignored him.
"He's right, Harry. You're gonna get in big trouble if you can't learn to control your temper," said Hermione. She was trying to keep up with Harry and Clark. Ron was trailing behind with Kara and Zatanna.
"What're you thinking getting a detention on the first day of school?" Clark scolded.
"It's none of your business. Why don't you just leave me alone," said Harry.
Luckily everyone else was more concerned with their stomachs than to eavesdrop on their conversation. Ron, Hermione, Kara and Zatanna, however, hung onto every word. They stayed out of it as it got more heated though, as they didn't think it wise to get in the middle of it.
"Yes it is. It's my job to keep you safe…" he said as quietly as possible.
Harry stopped suddenly and turned to Clark, "I can take care of myself. I've done it for fifteen years!"
"Yeah, you've done a great job, staying on your teacher's bad side and getting in trouble every other week."
"What's it to you? You're not my father."
Harry hurried off again, Hermione and Ron close behind, leaving Clark staring dumbstruck with Kara and Zatanna. What Harry had said was true, but it still stung Clark worse than the young wizard knew.
"Can you believe him?" asked Clark of the other two. Kara patted Clark's back consolingly.
"You're both already fighting like brother," said Zatanna excitedly, causing two simultaneous glares to be sent her way. They started off after the trio that was already far ahead of them.
Meanwhile, Hermione was whispering to Ron, "I just noticed, Harry and Clark are a lot alike."
Well that was chapter 9, I hope everyone enjoyed it. What did everyone think of the character portrayals and how they reacted to the given situations? What did everyone think of the interactions between all the characters? McGonagall with Clark, Kara and Zatanna; Harry and Clark; ect.
I have a feeling things are going to start getting pretty interesting int the next few chapters.